NEW YORK – After a summer of open gyms and several weeks of practicing against the same old faces, Paul Jorgensen is ready to get down to business.

Butler's 6-2 redshirt senior guard can't wait for the 2018-19 college basketball season to begin so the Bulldogs can face someone other than themselves.

"Yeah, playing each other for 4-5 weeks now, and all summer too (in) open gym, so we're ready to see someone else for once (and) finally get it going again," the New York native said as he sat on the Madison Square Garden floor Thursday morning during Big East media day.

The Bulldogs — who open with an exhibition Sunday against Tiffin at 2 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse — were picked fifth in the Big East Preseason Coaches' Poll. They did receive one first-place vote.

Reigning national champion Villanova was chosen first, followed by Marquette, Providence and what should be a vastly improved St. John's team under former Indiana Pacers and Big East legend Chris Mullin.

"You just take it how it is, we're just focused on us," junior guard Kamar Baldwin, who was named to the Preseason All-Big East First Team, said of the preseason poll. "Just continue to get better. The season hasn't started yet but just continue to get better."

St. John's junior guard Shamorie Ponds was named the Preseason Player of the Year, and Baldwin was joined on the first team by Georgetown center Jessie Govan, Marquette guard Markus Howard, Providence guard Alpha Diallo and Villanova forward Eric Paschall.

"I wasn't thinking too much on any of it," said Baldwin, who was second in scoring for Butler last season at 15.7 points per game along with 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals. "It's preseason, no one's really played a game yet. I'm just looking forward to the season and just being the best that we can."

"It's something to be proud and a lot of that falls on the players, expecting that from each other in the locker room," Jordan said. "Those guys, they know what was set before they came to Butler and the ones who are in the third year of the program, fourth year of the program, and watched guys like Tyler Lewis and Andrew Chrabascz, Tyler Wideman, Kelan Martin, they respect the past going back to when I played here before, so I think that's the thing we try not to lose or take for granted."

A year ago, the Big East put six teams — 60 percent of the league — into the NCAA tournament, including two No. 1 seeds in Villanova and Xavier. While this is perceived as somewhat of a down year for the league — Villanova is the only team ranked in the AP Preseason Poll — there's no doubt league play will prepare teams for the postseason.

"What I believe is the Big East is the best basketball conference in the country," Jordan said. "And so night in, night out you get to test yourself and then when you get to March, you're ready to compete.

"Obviously everybody's goal is to be in it. If you're one of the 68 teams in it, you got a chance."

Butler opens the regular season Nov. 10 against Miami (Ohio) at Hinkle, and starts the Big East season against Patrick Ewing and Georgetown on Jan. 2. The nonconference is highlighted by a Dec. 15 tilt with Indiana in the Crossroads Classic.

Jorgenson, for one, is ready to get started moving toward the ultimate goal.

"Absolutely," he said. "Every year you want to go far in the NCAA tournament, that's the goal at Butler. It's been a staple, so we want to keep going."

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Here are the key players and issues the Butler Bulldogs face as they prepare for the 2018-19 season.
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